tabarruj

Q: “Is it allowed for a woman to put on makeup if she leaves her house wearing hijaab?”

Shaikh al-Albaani:

“It is not permissible for a woman who does not wear hijaab, let alone who wears hijaab, to use the makeup of the disbeliever, the makeup of the faasiq (someone who disobeys Allaah by committing major sins). When did you come to know of a certain women’s adornment called a name for which Allaah has not sent down any authority: ‘makeup’? This is a word that neither we nor your forefathers know. Rather, it is a foreign expression for a particular adornment of the faasiq women of Europe; and our women – except those whom Allaah protects – unfortunately imitate them by decorating themselves with this adornment i.e. makeup which has affected the Islamic community. So it is not permissible for a woman.

This reality is a strange paradox: we see a woman on the road wearing an acceptable hijaab – I don’t say the legislated hijaab – who ties what they call an ishaarb, or khimaar which is the Arabic word, and covers her hair, neck, etc., but she has face powder and lipstick on. These are two contradictory matters that conflict and do not go together. What is the reason behind this? It is one of two things: either ignorance and heedlessness of the legislated ruling or following the evil insinuations of shaytaan.

Therefore, we firstly remind the women who are tried with this make-up. Then secondly, we remind the women’s guardians such as a father or husband or brother, as the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Every one of you is a caretaker and every one of you is responsible for what is under his/her care. A man is a caretaker responsible for those under his care…’[1] etc. This is why the Arabic or common proverb states: ‘The horse is part of the horseman.’ So you are the woman’s husband; it is not permissible for you to allow her to go out in this manner which tempts middle-aged men, let alone young men! You, O man, O father, O brother, are supposed have protective jealousy. Why? Because the Prophet ﷺ used to say: ‘A duyyooth will not enter Paradise.’[2] Why? Who is a duyyooth? He is the one who does not have protective jealousy for his womenfolk.”

I will conclude this talk, through which I hope Allaah عز وجل benefits the listeners, with the following narration from the Prophet ﷺ about women of the end of time. He ﷺ said: ‘There are two types of people I haven’t seen yet: men holding whips like the tails of cows who beat people with them, and women who are clothed yet naked, deviants themselves and deviating others, with heads like the humps of Bactrian camels. Curse them for they are cursed. They will not enter Paradise nor smell its fragrance though its fragrance can indeed be smelt from such-and-such distance.’[3] This is how the narration goes. In another narration, he ﷺ said: ‘Whoever kills a mu`aahad (a non-Muslim with whom Muslims have a peace treaty) unlawfully will not smell the fragrance of Paradise though its fragrance can indeed be smelt from a hundred years away.’[4] So the Messenger ﷺ said about these clothed yet naked women who impermissibly display their beauty/adornment: ‘Curse them for they are cursed. They will not enter Paradise nor smell its fragrance, though its fragrance can indeed be smelt from a hundred years away’ as in the second narration.”